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List of living former sovereign monarchs

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is a list of former monarchs of sovereign states who are alive to date. While most monarchs retain their position for their lifetime, some choose to abdicate in favour of a younger heir, while other monarchs are deposed when their monarchies are abolished or when another ruler seizes power by force. By international courtesy, these individuals are usually still addressed by their monarchical titles. The most recent former monarch to die was King Constantine II of Greece, on 10 January 2023.

Living former hereditary monarchs of sovereign states

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Name Title Reign Born Age Reason
Jamshid bin Abdullah Sultan of Zanzibar 1963–1964 16 Sep 1929 95 years, 51 days Monarchy abolished
Akihito Emperor of Japan 1989–2019 23 Dec 1933 90 years, 319 days Abdicated
Albert II King of the Belgians 1993–2013 6 Jun 1934 90 years, 153 days Abdicated
Tenzin Gyatso Dalai Lama of Tibet 1940–1951 6 Jul 1935 89 years, 123 days Monarchy abolished
Simeon II Tsar of the Bulgarians 1943–1946[1] 16 Jun 1937 87 years, 143 days Monarchy abolished
Juan Carlos I King of Spain 1975–2014 5 Jan 1938 86 years, 306 days Abdicated
Beatrix Queen of the Netherlands 1980–2013 31 Jan 1938 86 years, 280 days Abdicated
Margrethe II Queen of Denmark 1972–2024 16 Apr 1940 84 years, 204 days Abdicated
Gyanendra King of Nepal 1950–1951 and 2001–2008 7 Jul 1947 77 years, 122 days Monarchy abolished
Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani Emir of Qatar 1995–2013 1 Jan 1952 72 years, 310 days Abdicated
Fuad II King of Egypt and the Sudan 1952–1953 16 Jan 1952 72 years, 295 days Monarchy abolished
Jigme Singye Wangchuck King of Bhutan 1972–2006 11 Nov 1955 68 years, 361 days Abdicated

Living former elective monarchs of sovereign states

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Name Title Reign Born Age Reason
Sirajuddin of Perlis Yang di-Pertuan Agong of Malaysia 2001–2006 17 May 1943 81 years, 173 days Term ended
François Hollande Co-Prince of Andorra 2012–2017 12 Aug 1954 70 years, 86 days Did not seek re-election as President of France
Nicolas Sarkozy Co-Prince of Andorra 2007–2012 28 Jan 1955 69 years, 283 days Defeated for re-election as President of France
Abdullah of Pahang Yang di-Pertuan Agong of Malaysia 2019–2024 30 Jul 1959 65 years, 99 days Term ended
Mizan Zainal Abidin of Terengganu Yang di-Pertuan Agong of Malaysia 2006–2011 22 Jan 1962 62 years, 289 days Term ended
Muhammad V of Kelantan Yang di-Pertuan Agong of Malaysia 2016–2019 6 Oct 1969 55 years, 31 days Abdicated

Living former hereditary monarch of a non-sovereign state

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Name Title Reign Born Age Note
Ghalib II al-Qu'aiti Sultan of Qu'aiti 1966–1967 7 Jan 1948 76 years, 304 days Monarchy abolished

Notes

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  1. ^ Simeon returned to Bulgaria in 1996 after a half-century in exile and was elected Prime Minister under the name Simeon Saxe-Coburg-Gotha (Simeon Sakskoburggotski) in 2001, serving until 2005.

See also

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